Pennine pointer. It’s not a breed recognised by the Kennel Club and it’s not really a breed at all (like all crossbreed gundogs), but it is a tough, all-round gundog that has been produced by gamekeepers working on the grouse moors of the Pennines. They wanted a dog that was…
Shooting Times
Toxic ammunition: the truth about lead
The move to phase out lead ammunition is one of the most divisive and inflammatory issues in modern fieldsports. Yet, despite the wealth of coverage and the emotion the topic of toxic ammunition evokes in many quarters, the open-minded hunter looking for sufficient information to form their own opinion can…
Venison involtini with roasted fennel
This venison recipe works with all sorts of venison, but I have tweaked this version to work best with red deer meat. The herbs and the roasted fennel all slant the flavour towards setting off the base of red deer meat, which I have found to be a little more…
Gun safety catch – should it be automatic on all guns?
Intercepting safety sears on the tumbler of a gun are supposed to stop accidental discharges if the gun is dropped, or jarred, by accident.
What’s happening with woodcock?
With the November full moon now just 4 weeks away the thoughts of game shooters are turning increasingly to woodcock and hopes are high for strong early falls. A few birds have begun to drift in with odd examples reported by shooters and birdwatchers however no substantial falls have yet…
Roadkill – this is why you should NEVER eat it
So you’re driving along and there’s a freshly dead muntjac or pheasant by the roadside. Should you take the roadkill home for dinner? I recently received this query from a reader and had no hesitation in giving my answer. Q: People often ask me if I will prepare birds and…
Scotland’s final muirburn season gets underway
Save money on Shooting Times by taking out a subscription here. What seems likely to be Scotland’s final unlicensed muirburn season has got underway. The season officially opens on the 1st of October, but wet weather delayed the start of burning on many estates. Now a brief window without rain…
Deer stalking clothing: this is what to wear
One of the things I most enjoy about deer stalking is working with newcomers. Often these are people who have done a fair bit of game shooting or fishing but have decided it’s time to get into stalking properly. Inevitably, if you’re deciding to take up stalking or you’re keen…
John Jeffries Perugini & Visini Elite HVR
As an elite piece of equipment, why is it that the shotgun hasn’t seen the advancements in technology that rifles have? Radical changes in design have been few and most never gain traction. Changes in aesthetics and materials and tweaking are constant, but these are more to do with sales…
A recipe for venison cannelloni
There’s a group of pubs, scattered between inner London and Oxford, that I urge anyone to seek out. The term ‘gastropub’ is used to describe pub food. I dislike it. Gastronomy is not what pub food should be. The best, most honest, authentic fare goes well with humble British ales…
Why you should never ignore a dog’s broken tooth
A vet explains why one reader was charged £150 to have his dog's molar removed
Should the firearms enquiry officer have taken a picture of my gun cabinet?
Q: A while ago I started learning to shoot and now I have been granted my shotgun certificate. I have bought a gun cabinet and installed it. I keep ahead of firearms law and the rules on gun cabinets.However I have a query. I recently had my interview at my…
Scottish Gamekeepers Association attacks BASC over deer plans
In a scathing blog, SGA Chairman Alex Hogg questioned the motive behind the BASC plan. Alex said: “If this is about opportunism and winning new shooting grounds for members, then there is likely to be questions asked about how this will make things better for deer management in Scotland today.”…
Anger builds as New Zealand venison is marked ‘Highland Game’
Sybil Macpherson took to Facebook after spotting the product in her local Tesco. In a post showing the pack Sybil said “I was both surprised and disappointed to read the label on this pack of venison for sale yesterday. Why, when we have ample supplies of Scottish venison available, is…
Get better at game on clays
It’s that time of year when an invitation to shoot rolls into the inbox and stings the average game Shot into confronting the fact they haven’t picked up a gun in something approaching a year. In the age of COVID-19, that might even be two years for some of us,…
Tips for wildfowling
Wildfowling is a wonderful sport, but not always the most productive in terms of action or shooting opportunities compared with other fieldsports. Making the most of the chances presented is key to success, turning a trip from a birdwatching outing into a hunter-gathering expedition. Here are a few tips for…
Fried wild boar with apple butter
I have done a fair few wild boar recipes. Without repeating myself too much, it’s a meat that I absolutely love cooking with. It’s versatile, rich and incredibly delicious. Some of the best methods are, of course, to make good burgers and sausages, but you can do so much more.…
Should you tell off an unsafe Shot?
So what should you do if you go out shooting with a friend of a friend and you think they are an unsafe Shot and that their shooting safety could be improved? A reader wrote to us recently saying: “Last season, I went shooting with somebody a friend knows who…
65% of country’s shoots will be ‘lead free’ by end of 2023, according to survey
The Savills Game and Conservation Benchmarking Survey found that the vast majority of shoots had already got rid of plastic shotgun wads and that most were expecting to transition away from lead shot. Conservation work is also being given increasing priority by shoots with two-third of respondents saying they undertook…
Countryside groups ready for court action if fox control bill prevents humane practices
Shooting Times understands that countryside groups are in receipt of advice that they potentially have strong challenges to legislation under the European Convention on Human Rights and that they have been marshalling resources to take the case to court. Fox control bill Currently, packs of dogs may be used to…